When Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 82 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Monday night at Sharjah, the 2017 humiliating defeat at the hands of KKR must’ve crossed his head. If one recalls, KKR bowlers ran riot as RCB batsmen fell like a pack of cards, registering the unwanted record of the lowest IPL score.

Incidentally, in that particular game, match 27 of the IPL 2017, KKR had defeated RCB by 82 runs, as well. Funny co-incident.

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In the 2017 match, RCB had won the toss and elected to bowl. At that time, KKR’s experimentation with Sunil Narine was paying dividends, unlike now. While Narine’s 17-ball 34 set the tone for the match, RCB’s bowling attack scalped wickets in regular intervals to bundle the opponent for a mere 131 runs in 19.3 overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who finished the match with figures of 3/16 in his stipulated four overs, starred with the ball for his team.

In reply, RCB fell like dominoes, courtesy of a fiery bowling attack of KKR. No batsmen could cross the double-figure mark as RCB were left reeling. Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes, and Colin de Grandhomme returned with three wickets apiece, while Umesh Yadav took a solitary wicket.

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All-out for 49 in 9.4 overs, RCB registered the lowest-ever IPL score. And three years later, RCB defeated the same opposition with the same margin.

“Probably our worst batting performance, the worst of the IPL as well. Very hurtful for me to stand here and talk. I thought we could capitalise and cash in during the chase. I can’t say anything now, but our performance was unacceptable. Disgraceful batting, reckless from us, one of the worst collapses ever,” Kohli had said in a post-match presentation in 2017.